Lots to catch up on....

There is soooo much to catch up on so I'm not going to try to be too organized. This will be a stream of conscience, random thoughts, etc...

I am supposed to be leavingfor home tomorrow... but there is a couple coming in for meetings, and one of the meeting participants couldn't get here before Monday .... so I'm booked to leave 11:55 am Wednesday ... arriving in Rochester 6:30pm!

Since I last updated the blog a lot has happened --
SPRING being one of the most important... the video is from a "Miss Cow" contest in one of the Swiss Valleys ... NO Kidding!

When I left Trogen April 3rd we still had snow on the ground. but now there are flowers!!

Cologne, Germany is where I visited friends, and we did some sightseeing in the city, the childhood home of Marc Schmidtke. It was fun to experience the city through his stories and history, especially what it experienced in WWII. Everything was totally bombed by the British, except the cathedral as it was the 'landmark' that let the bombers know where they were.
This is a church that was built around the bombed out section of the older church... look close you can see the old section of the building....

FROM Germany, I flew to Dubai, UAE ... this is a city that has more five star hotels than any other place in the world. The city is unbelieveable ... the 'national bird' this the crane... over one fourth of the world's construction cranes are in Dubai. the next picture is of the world's tallest building... it is still under construction. Dubai is the Altar to Materialism... what I learned while there is that Dubai is one of the emmerites of the United Arab Emmerites ... it has no more oil... consequently the Shieks decided to create a place their 'oil buddies' could spend their money... and that is what has happened. It would take me pages to explain the level of outragious ways you could spend your money in Dubai. One of them being at the ski slope built in the desert ... it was 95 degrees but inside the Mall of the Emmerits you can go sking, ice skating or snow boarding!

But as always God has his ways -- the city is also used as a place of rest and respite for the international worker of the Gospel to come out of their countries for a break. I met many families who needed a break from Pakastian, Afganistan, Morocco and many other closed countries. One thing Dubai does do, is allow some freedom of worship. It is still a muslim country but because it wants to be international it has to allow some freedom... Consequently, we were able to have sunrise service on the beach Easter Sunday. We right under the 7 star hotel on the beach...


I arrived back in Switzerland, Sunday, 19 April ... Tuesday I was on my way to Frutigen. A village in a valley between the Alp Mts. I was visiting with a family that will be leaving for Papua Indonesia in mid-July. Erwin is a helicopter pilot and they will be going to their first Helimission assignment .... And what a delightful family!!
this is where I saw the "Miss Cow" contest at the beginning of the blog... I'm learning that each of the villages has a Miss Cow contest every year!

Tomorrow I travel to Zurich (an hour by train) to stay overnight with friends. Some other friends from Holland are coming in for teaching. I am looking forward to seeing them, as it was 2001 since the last time ...

If I have a chance I'll update before I come home, but if not it has been fun... hope you've enjoyed the Blog too!!!

Lots of Love,
Margaret

Riding the Heli

March 13, 2009 ... what a day to remember!

The week itself had been a memorable one, Scott and Jennie Phillips had been here all week. They are on furlough from Papua Indonesia ... they live in the mountains with the Dao Tribe ... a once unreached people group!

BUT because God placed it on the hearts of a young couple (very young ... 19 & 22 years old when they received the call, it is now 7 years later; 2 years training, and 5 years in the bush) that it just isn't fair that there are people who have not heard the name of Jesus and it's redeeming power! Scott and Jennie, created a written language for the tribe, and have now started the translation of the Scriptures. Jennie does most of the actual Bible translation (8 to10 hour days) with local Dao helpers and Scott works with the teaching aides, creating books to teach them how to read and write their own language, training the local believers how to teach the Bible, and they both relationship with their friends in the tribe. (take the time to visit their website www.sjphillips.org -- click on the photo gallery to see them with their friends.)

When I come home I will share some of their DVD's that show the Dao hearing the Gospel story of redemption for the first time, see their first baptisms, (which in itself is a miracle as they had strong animist beliefs about evil spirits in water) and other great victories.

I shared all that to say, on 13 March Simon, Scott, Jennie and me traveled up to Samedam (near St. Moritz) to pick up the helicopter that was in for some maintenance. It was a 25 min car ride to the train station, 3 hours on the train up and through the mountains. It was 38 minutes back to the Helimission Headquarters in Trogen!!! see the pictures below!

A message from Simon Tanner

Friends and family... We just received this message from Simon, he is in Ethiopia, his email explains what is happening... I wanted to share it because it helps you understand why I am willing to sit in Switzerland at a computer to help Helimission support their staff by member care. It is so the world can be reached by the Word and Love of Jesus! Share in the excitement!! Margaret


Dear Fellow Labourers!
Greetings in the powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Lord allowed me to attend and be part of an Evangelistic Outreach with Joshua Campaign (our former Swedish pilot Karl Hargestam started this ministry 11 years ago.). The campaign was in the area “El Fatta”. Around 30’000 people attended. During the day there were 2 meetings. People danced in between, singing and praising the Lord Jesus.
For me it was just wonderful to see how Jesus IS TODAY the same as He was 2000 years ago! The blind could see, the deaf could hear, sinner got saved… Jesus did what He used to do everywhere He went – awesome! The Lord confirmed the preaching of His Word with lots of miracles.
For example: A seven year old girl was deaf from birth. During the preaching her ears opened up! Praise the Lord! She came forward with her mother to testify what Jesus did for them! (See attached photo: Karl with translator and the little girl.) She was asked if she know Jesus. She said: “A little bit only; I just arrived here yesterday.”
On Saturday morning Karl let me preach. It was a challenge for me, I must omit, but the Lord was gracious and touched lives, saved sinners, and healed the sick. And this simply by proclaiming that Jesus is Lord and by preaching the Gospel – that simple. One of the healings was that a man, who could not see on his left eye since 2 years, could see again!! (Second picture: Old man, translator and ST)
The healings were checked/tested, and other people (witnesses) were asked forward to testify about the condition before the healing. It was just awesome to see the childlike faith these people have! And the Lord honours it by healing them.

On Sunday morning, the last meeting, I saw a young lady running down from the back of the field. She ran towards the platform. Her face was beaming like a little sun. You could see that she was overwhelmed by the excitement that she got touched by Jesus, that she got healed. I then saw how she came forward to the ushers who check on those coming forward. She then came upon the platform and testified, that her right leg was so much shorter that her foot could not touch the ground. Now the right leg has the same length as the left one! She danced on the platform and was overwhelmed by joy and thankfulness! (See picture 3) –

Jesus is the same yesterday, TODAY and forever! – He is awesome!

We then found out that there are over 70% Christians in this area, and that only 14 years ago the first ones made the choice to follow Christ. And this was through an Evangelistic outreach Karl Hargestam did in 1995 with HELIMISSION!!! What an awesome testimony of what God has done through Helimission! We all were very much amazed about this. Karl did not know about it. During his years as pilot with HM he preached in many remote locations, one of them was in “Hero”, around 15 KM from “El Fatta”, where this meeting was now. There around 100 decided to give their lives to Jesus.
I just wanted to share this joy with you! – God is good – all the time!
I greet you from our new, wonderful base in Awassa!

what is a culture?

I'm not going to sing the praises of children of another culture over my own, but I will speak of cultural things that have endeared them to me! It isn't because I'm with basically christian children ... after all, children are children, no matter how they are raised. However, there is a cultural etiquette that exists that never ceases to amaze me.

When you walk into a room in Europe (I've experienced it in a number of countries) you are expected to greet everyone. It isn't a casual general greeting, you acknowledge everyone -- with the handshake being the most formal. If you are friends, or family the greeting will be more informal.

So, now to the children -- each child I have met in the home is expected to greet you with a handshake, both during the introduction and the departing. And the one that 'impressed' me most was the young man, 3 1/2 years old, (who was not prompted by parents), but greeted me on his accord. And as the visiting family was leaving, I watched the children shake hands with their peers!

It could be that I'm exposing one of my biggest pet peeves about my own culture ... how often have you entered a room and wondered if you were invisible? As not one person recognized your presence ... and if you proceeded to make your presence known to anyone you were looked at as interrupting ...

Some of the fun things I've observed -- they sing Happy Birthday in English ... because school encourages it, almost every child plays and instrument ... (how we are missing it in our own schools cutting corners with music being the first to go) ... and of course, because we are in Switzerland skiing is one of the sports that takes them outside and keeps them healthy ... and do they like the snow ... at Sarah's birthday party the majority of the girls choose to play outdoors in the snow when invited ...










And what a heritage the Tanner children have ... the pictures are of Sarah being sung Happy Birthday to by her Oma and Opa ... (Ernie and Hedi Tanner) and then the birthday prayer blessing by her father and grandfather ...

Well, this posting is a little off the beaten path ... but thanks for listening ... the pics are of Sarah who is 9 ... Deborah who is 7 and Daniel who is will be 11 in May ...

February 20 FRIDAY

The days come and the days go, and I turn around and a week has passed!

It is doing something it didn't do yesterday! SNOW! But did for 3 days previous to yesterday ....

Although in between the snow it is beautiful walking ... see the pictures ...

This is Christine, she works in the HM office, new to the staff, she invited me to her apartment for dinner, (the windows just over her shoulder) ...

God is mighty and faithful... this has been a successful week with Member Care projects... I've been about to put to paper needed guidelines, and debriefing papers... probably doesn't sound too exciting to the non-administrator, but I'll tell you for me it is a truly successful week! THANK YOU for the prayers ... without them I'd be dry and unable to produce what is needed ...

I've shared with those praying about Kathleen & Jay's car accident, that too only makes me Praise Him for His mercies in my life ...

I have been so enamored with the children of Europe ... I'll share more what I mean about that in the next few days....




Lots of blessings!!!!

REMEMBER LOVE

Serendipity

Serendipity - the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for

This publication will take many forms. Unless stated otherwise it is all original. It is my way of discovery and of sharing. You, the reader, may find a poem, a bit of prose, a picture, a maxim or almost anything here that hopefully will touch some deep part of your spirit. It may come to you daily, it may come as whimsy or as the Spirit leads. Editor

derrel e. emmerson…5240 coventry creek drive…cumming,..ga…30040…678-947-3029

Saturday

February 14, 2009

Love is the first thing we experience that brings us joy. It is the sole search of our lives whether we pursue power, fame, fortune or a quiet life. It is the one spiritual sustenance we need or we perish. It is the only thing in which we can really rejoice before and after we leave this earth.

Love will last forever….” I Corinthians 13:8a

February 9

Thank you again and again for the prayer support, it has proven itself with the last weeks events. (read the post from yesterday)

the next few days include:

• Tomorrow (2/10) Simon will be taking me to meet Walter and Suzanne Iserling, a Swiss couple, They have taken on a Member Care role with Helimission. I will be staying with them overnight and possibly two nights, with the intention to get to know each other. PLEASE PRAY ... for the Lord to be there, that we will hear each others heart, and that there will be a unified vision for Helimission's Member Care program.

• PLEASE PRAY in regards to my language study. Today I am tackling the "sounds" of the alphabet ... there are a couple of the 'double dot' vowels that are nigh to impossible for me to create. English just doesn't have those sounds... and as crazy as it sounds the little Dutch I learned is surfacing and 'getting in the way'. Even Brikena has commented that I tend to speak German with a Dutch accent :0)
• Travel arrangements have been made for my travel in April to meet a HM couple who left the field last year, I visited them in Ethiopia March 2008, they are now home in Germany. I will share for prayer when the time get closer.
  

• On the back of the Germany trip I will be traveling to Dubai to meet an Elim international worker who is stationed in a Middle East country, she will be coming out of her country to renew her visa and I will connect with her for a few days there.

Thank you for being there in prayer for this time. Please join with me for prayer for Israel tomorrow. The outcome of their elections will set the course of what will be happening in that part of the world for some time to come... and we (the USA) are very involved. PRAY that we do not betray Israel.

You are always on my heart and remembered in my prayers, and again!, thank you!!!!

Margaret

A Very Full Week

I am utterly amazed that it has been a week since I posted! But it has been a busy and full week ... your prayers were felt often!

• Recording for DVD

• meetings to strategize for Member Care

• two birthdays

• the family Scharz
  

and all in 6 days ...

Recording for Helimission DVD's ... what a honor! Helimission is redoing the original films from the 1970's and the English versions were to be recorded this week. My timing here was perfect, Ernie asked, as an English speaker, if I would work with him to make the recordings. We spent 3 sessions doing them, with some of the time correcting mistakes. There were a few laughs along the way too!

Meetings to strategize for Member Care ... this week we (me, Simon, Brikena and Jurg, who is the personnel manager) met a couple times to discuss the direction we are heading in concerning Member Care for Helimission. Honestly, prayers were felt, there is a sense that Helimission accepts it responsibility of caring for its workers; but also recognizes that it is impossible to do the 'caring' alone. Therefore, we are hoping to share the vision of the Three Legged Stool ... meaning ... in Member Care, the missionary, the agency and the church are equally responsible for the a support of the missionary and the work. Of course, God is the ultimate One we look to, and beyond that we each take our roles. And out of the meetings came a number of things to do and follow up on ...

Two Birthdays ... as anywhere, birthdays are important in family. Helimission is a family, by blood, but by the Spirit also. Wednesday was Judith's 23rd b'day, I met her when she had just started w/HM 3 years ago ... on Saturday we went to her family home for Rachlette* w/all the Tanner's (7 in all) myself, the HM staff and spouses (6) plus of course her family & a few friends. It a great cultural experience! Simon turned 44 on Thursday! A special dinner was prepared, gifts in the morning, and it is quite a tradition surrounds Simon. He is a chocolate lover, but not just any chocolate, Lindor milk chocolate balls! We figured out this morning that in all he came close to 3 kilos of Lindor! That translates to over 6 pounds! But I must say, he is a man who shares freely!

the family Scharz ... I first met the Scharz family 3 years ago when I went to Wamana, Indonesia with Simon. It was there first term on the field ... since then Erwin has been building up flight hours to qualify him for solo helicopter license. The last three years have found them in Canada, and the Yukon accumulating many adventures. It is a delight to watch them as a family, 3 girls, 11, 8, 5 and one boy, 15 months! They were here visiting, checking in with Hdqtrs and renewing relationship. They are home (Switzerland is there home culture) until July, when they return to Indonesia for language school then on to Wamana to become a part of the team there.


And this morning we awoke to snow! And it hasn't stopped snowing ... it is what I call 'real snow' ... you know the atmosphere is creating it, not the lakes. Consequently, it is about 34-36 degrees, but with no wind blowing. It is a gentle snow, just continues to pile up!

*Rachlette (not sure I'm spelling it right) is traditionally Swiss ... you melt rachlette cheese on a type of grill on the table (it is electric) and it is served over potatoes, with pickles, small onions, and other condoments. I have one at home and hope to bring some rachlette cheese home with me... I'll invite you!

Hope this won't happen again... waiting a week makes the post much too long, but wanted to share how your prayers are necessary, and progress is being made! Will post again tomorrow to share some of the upcoming events...

Love you All!!!!
Margaret

February 1, 2009

Sunday is almost over ... I'm a few minutes from 'going horizontal' ... by the 'charts' I'm one day away from being over jet lag. Thought I had it whipped, then this morning I had to sit still in church, listen to a language I didn't understand*, and I found myself fighting to staying awake. (*there was translation, but it was still a stretch)

The worship was good, in a few weeks it will be more comfortable. I recognized many of the songs, but the English words get lost while you are singing the German...

This afternoon I was learning the German numbers and some colors... we were playing Uno... and the kids were having fun teaching me...

The 'work week' starts tomorrow ... devotion with the office staff is at 7:30am every morning. I will participate a few times a week, because when I'm there they do it in English and that is not as intimate for them ...

Tuesday, I will be explaining some of the Member Care ideas I have, so prayer is asked for ... vision, insight and an ability to communicate it with clarity.

Soon I'll have to share the exciting rides up and down the mountains on Swiss roads...

blessings ...

Friday Jan 30

Hi...
It is 11:00pm and I'm off to bed in a few minutes... it is interesting to me how quickly I do respond as, I am already adjusting to wanting to be in bed now, when it is still 'afternoon' my body time. Everything says it takes a day an hour to adjust to jet lag, so I still have a couple days left... which will be about right.

Monday we start in earnest with language study, as well as, looking at how we will approach Member Care.

I have to say my timing is good, the children have been on holiday this week, so we are starting to get comfortable with each other. And last night Ernie and Simon Tanner took the office staff out to dinner (the first time in a couple of years) ... it was great, good food and fun conversation (as much as I could understand). It was quite the culture adjustment listening to a person of Asian decent speaking German. We were in a Chinese Restaurant. And because she realized I was American I was asked how their food compared to American Chinese Restaurants ... how do you think I responded??? :0)

good night and God Bless!

Arrived ... January 29

I'm here! Yeah, traveling without incident... the first 40 minutes on the flight out of Washington DC was a roller coaster, but it eventually settled down ... looking back at the weather that came across the country it looks like I "got out of Dodge" just in time! Slept good last night, awoke about 11am this morning, I was exhausted and it was about 'my body' time to get up ... tomorrow I will use the alarm to help me adjust to Swiss time!!

The Tanner family is a delight, I was immediately received and felt at home. Even the cats like me; although we may have to have a discussion on who sleeps on the bed, me or them :0)

My German study will be fruitful quickly as the children do not speak much English ... Sarah is studying in school. The challenge will be learning what is called "high German" and living in a Swiss German household. It means even some of the words are different. Today at lunch I learned that the German word for chicken is one thing and in Swiss German is polla (spelled by phonetics the 'a' is a long sound ... almost sounds Spanish).
So that is a real prayer point!!!

This afternoon I sit with Simon and Brikena to talk about what we want to accomplish while I am here. Especially concerning the Member Care program and planning the retreat for October.
Another prayer point.

Will post again tomorrow ... if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

January 27 ... takeoff

Greetings ...

I am one half hour away from leaving home for the airport. The sun is shining, the air is crisp, and my heart is full...

The love, prayers and support I have already received has been overwhelming. Sunday I felt the arms of Zion Fellowship around me, prayers, and well wishes were the order of the day... THANK YOU!!! then the many phone calls from friends and family added to the fatness of my spirit!

Prayer for the next couple of days:
good weather out of Washington DC... my layover, there is winter weather expected
sleep on the plane, I'd love to arrive without feeling like I've been punched... that's what I always feel like without sleep...
and most of all ... Divine appointments; as I work mostly with believers, I need divine appointments to share the love of Christ with unbelievers

a few have asked for an address that I can receive mail:

Stiftung Helimission
Attn: Margaret Preston
Bleiche 2
CH-9043 Trogen
Switzerland

Thank you for your love and support!

tty soon!
Love, Margaret

Saturday ... on the countdown...

Wow... only a few days away and I'm on my way ... it is exciting to imagine what the next few months will bring...

• learning a new language
• adjusting to a new culture
  
• interacting with the Tanner family ... 3 generations live in the same house

Ernie and Hedi live in an apartment below; separate entrance etc...
Simon, Brikena and Daniel, Sarah and Debora live in the main part of the house

• creating an formal Member Care program in conjunction with the Personal Manager, Jurg and Simon, the Director

Thank you for coming along side me in prayer ... the tasks before me are daunting but doable especially with love and support....

January 23 addon...

Hi ...
this is a test to see if when I post an email is sent to my "followers", I've added you to a list hope it works... blessings

January 23, 2009

Hi...
We are under a 'heat wave' here in the Finger Lake area of NY... it actually is making it to 40 plus degrees today... but we are promised a nose dive in temps over the weekend!

I'm at my computer putting the finishing touches on the paper work, etc.. before I start packing... when you are traveling for three months, what do you take? I've come up with a system that says take 3 outfits to wear daily, one 'go to church'; the personal stuff, and if you need anything else, borrow it! Works for me, I traveled a couple of years ago for 5 1/2 months, through various changing temps and survived.

The prayer needs are simple, wisdom in packing, and a memory that won't forget to either pack something or forget to do something before I leave...

Lots of blessings ...

January 21, 2009

Greetings...
... it is the day after the first day of our new President's term of office!

I have to admit watching yesterday was a bittersweet time. Everything in me wants to celebrate the 'history' we are living, I continue to pray that President Obama's heart will be be turned to the life of the unborn. Tomorrow is the day we mark 36 years of Roe v. Wade and millions of babies killed at the altar of our selfishness. I stand convicted of my own role of apathy over the years; it was my generation that made it 'legal' and continues to propagate the lies of Choice vs. Life.

Well, on to other subjects... a week yesterday I travel to Switzerland to work with Helimission for 2 months, then make some member care trips for Elim Fellowship in Europe in April... Returning home to Canandaigua April 25, 2009. I will be updating this every few days and hopefully adding some pictures....

January 17, 2009

Went to see "Doubt" at the movies tonight. These last few weeks I've seen more movies ... this one was a heavy one ... lines right up with "Seven Pounds". Both had great acting... it is acutally nice to see movies with acting being the focus and not the special effects doing all the 'acting'.

If you've seen either of these movies I'd love to 'talk' about them... especially Seven Pounds.. it made quite an impression on me, and would like to discuss it...

Getting Started ...

Greetings,

This is an attempt to stay in touch with you this year 2009! It is so exciting to watch what God is doing in the world and in my life and the lives of those I love...

There are so many I want to stay in touch with and with as busy as our world is if this works ... how great that would be!!

As many of you know I leave in 10 days for Switzerland for 3 months... there is a lot to do between now and when I leave, but staying in touch with you is a high priority. Honestly, this won't be an excuse not to be in touch personally, it will just allow me to share what is happening and if you are interested and haven't heard from me you can check... I'm going to try to update this at least every other day...